Total noooooob to welding.

[Stick L200]

Right, i am a total nooooob to welding and i MUST crack the basics asap so i can get cracking with my truck. Is any-one local to Benton (Newcastle) to help and pass on adive etc ..

Also, want kinda of welder is a nooob one, i will have around £100 to buy a 2nd hand item preferably. Just wanting to know what i should be looking out for, tips below please...

 

[madkayaker]

look for a second hand MIG something like a Clarke

 

[Stick L200]

Yeah a clarke or similar will be surfice. I have had a tiny bit of experience of welding but it was literally one blast of the trigger then handed back to a mate LOL.

Wanting to pick up a welder soon(ish) and get abit metal together to start practicing.

 

[Robotstar5]

Budget for an auto mask and gloves etc.

 

[madkayaker]

auto masks are great you will wonder how you managed with out

 

[Stick L200]

I have sufficient gloves already i think and a mask BUT i do think the mask i have is abit 'well used' so will end up purchasing a new one.

What am i looking at for a decent set-up then -

2nd hand welder set-up £100
Mask - ??
Gloves - ??

 

[madkayaker]

£40 should cover an auto mask from Weldequip

 

[Robotstar5]

Double your budget for the welder, if you can find a decent (make) 2nd hand.

 

[Stick L200]

After abit reading on here he seems to be the guy in demand, might be worth a PM to him and have abit chat!

Cant wait to get cracking though, i was trying to get booked onto a college twilight course but it was fully booked

 

[bawjaws]

what material thickness will you be welding? ?(min+max)

as said before other things to take into the budget are gloves, mask, gas, tips, shrouds, ect, youll get alot less hassle if you bought a new machine but then again youll spend much more!

 

[Nomad]

Hi, and welcome

Browse the forums, there's a load of useful info here, tutorials, "what type of mig?" discussions, etc And lots of experts who are happy to help us newbies

keep an eye on the "for sale" section, you might find something to suit you ( a local mig sold last week)

I started welding last year to get the car through an MOT. Bought a Clarke Pro90, auto mask, and co2 bottle. A good start but would look for something a bit bigger if I was buying again.